The Oval | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Ovalariel.gif) The Oval circa 2004 | |
 | |
| Location | Belfast |
|---|---|
| Owner | Glentoran Recreation Co Ltd |
| Operator | Glentoran |
| Capacity | 26,556 (6,050 safe capacity) |
| Record attendance | 55,000 (Glentoran vs Rangers, UEFA Cup) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1892 |
| Renovated | 2000 |
| Tenants | |
| Glentoran (NIFL Premiership) (1892–1941, 1949–present) Queen's Island (1924–28) | |
The Oval (currently known as The BetMcLean Oval for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which has been home to Glentoran F.C. since 1892.
In 1941, the stadium was severely damaged by aerial bombing during the Belfast blitz of World War II and was unusable until 1949. A new main stand was constructed in 1953. The stadium was refurbished with a new stand built in 2000, but requires consistent maintenance to fulfill health and safety requirements and its total capacity is currently restricted to 6,050. The Oval has occasionally hosted the final of the Irish Cup as well as hosting the final of the County Antrim Shield and the Setanta Cup.
As of August 2021, the Oval has been sponsored by bookmakers A. McLeans in a five-year, £250,000 deal, with the name of the Oval becoming the BetMcLean Oval.[1]
- ^ Gareth Hanna (25 August 2021). "BetMcLean Oval Glentoran Stadium renamed in £250,000 sponsorship deal". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 17 April 2022.